Page 45 – News Stand

10 Mar

S&T rates for public servants increased

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Niël Terblanché Public servants can look forward to an increase in their Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA), commonly referred to as S&Ts, effective from 1 April. The announcement was made by I-Ben Nashandi, the executive director in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), during the official opening of the institution’s annual planning workshop currently underway in Swakopmund. Nashandi said the adjustment in S&T rates has not been finalised yet but that it is part of the government’s broader efforts to enhance employee welfare and performance within the public sector. He also stressed the importance of embracing technological advancements and innovative…

10 Mar

Whistleblower Line launched to enhance transparency

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché TransNamib, state-owned rail operator, in a decisive move to reinforce ethical business practices, introduced a dedicated Whistleblower Line, aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance within the organisation. Announcing the initiative on Monday, TransNamib’s chief executive officer, Desmond van Jaarsveld, said the new platform would provide employees, customers, and stakeholders with a secure and confidential avenue to report unethical conduct, fraud, corruption, or misconduct. “The Whistleblower Line is an independent and anonymous reporting channel that allows individuals to share concerns without fear of retaliation. TransNamib encourages all stakeholders to use this platform responsibly to help maintain the…

10 Mar

Parliament urges Agribank to increase funding for farmers

info_e12wt4csNational News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Natural Resources has recommended increasing Agribank’s funding scheme for resettled farmers to at least N$1 million. This recommendation follows a study by the committee, conducted between May and August 2023, which highlighted the financial challenges faced by resettled farmers. The committee’s report, released last week, found that many resettled farmers struggle to run their farms productively due to insufficient start-up capital. The committee also recommended that the resettlement policy consider issuing farmers with title deeds, which could be used as collateral to access loans from financial institutions. Currently, resettled farmers do not…

10 Mar

Brave Warriors camp forces league rescheduling

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Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Debmarine Premier League matches between African Stars FC and Young Africans FC, as well as UNAM FC and Bucks Buccaneers FC, originally scheduled for Tuesday, have been postponed due to training camp for the Brave Warriors. Debmarine Premier League director, Mabos Vries confirmed on Monday that a new date for the matches will be announced to the affected teams and their supporters in due course. The four teams did not play league games this past weekend as they were competing in the MTC Maris Cup semi-finals. African Stars defeated Bucks Buccaneers 2-1 to reach the final, where…

09 Mar

Final election report still pending

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Ester Mbathera The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) has yet to release its final report on Namibia's 2024 elections. The preliminary report was issued two days after the elections, but the final report remains pending. SEOM member, Magabolle Mafiri on Saturday told the Windhoek Observer that the report is still to be submitted to the Namibian government. "In line with the SADC principles and guidelines, it will be copied to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), following which it will be shared with electoral stakeholders after 90 days," said Mafiri. SEOM typically releases their preliminary statements,…

09 Mar

Swapo women celebrate NNN

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Ester Mbathera Female members of Swapo have celebrated the election of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the party’s president, calling it a milestone that demonstrates women’s capability to lead. Nandi-Ndaitwah was elected by acclamation at Swapo’s 6th extraordinary congress on Saturday, becoming the party’s first female president. The central committee had endorsed her as the sole presidential candidate on 17 February. Election by acclamation allows an association or party to skip the final ballot process in an uncontested election. Party member, Sharonice Busch described her election as a “significant moment” for young women and women across the country. “We have demonstrated that…

09 Mar

Uitele granted land tax exemption as a disadvantaged Namibian

info_e12wt4csNational News

Allexer Namundjembo Supreme Court judge Shafimana Ueitele was granted a land tax exemption by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform on the basis that he falls within the category of a former disadvantaged person as articulated under Article 23 of the Constitution. This explanation was given by the agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein in parliament last week when he was responding to questions posed to him by Popular Democratic Movement parliamentarian, Hidipo Hamata. “Secondly, it is justified as the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at redressing social, economic, or educational imbalances in Namibian society arising out of past…

09 Mar

New DRC Police Station brings hope to many

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The newly inaugurated DRC Police Station in Swakopmund’s DRC informal settlement is set to stand as a beacon of safety and justice, bringing essential law enforcement services closer to the people who reside in the sprawling informal settlement. Officially opened on Thursday by Albert Kawana, Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, the facility will also increase security in the growing community. Kawana said that the new facility was constructed in just six months. “The state-of-the-art police station is a result of a public-private partnership, with Rössing Uranium Limited funding the project and the Swakopmund Municipality donating…

09 Mar

Damaged railway lines under repair

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Niël Terblanché TransNamib has suspended rail traffic on several lines over the past weekend to allow technical teams to repair infrastructure damaged by recent flooding. According to the national railway operator’s spokesperson, Abigail Raubenheimer, the damage has primarily affected routes in southern and western Namibia. "TransNamib wishes to inform the public and its valued customers that recent heavy rains across the country have led to washaways in certain sections of the railway network, particularly in the southern and western regions of Namibia," she said. The railway between Usakos and Arandis was among the affected routes, but it has already been…

09 Mar

Nambaza Logistics Park and Blue Institute set to stimulate industrial expansion

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Niël Terblanché Namibia took another step towards industrial expansion and economic diversification as President Nangolo Mbumba officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the Nambaza Logistics Park (NLP) and the Blue Institute of Technology (BIT) in Walvis Bay on Friday. The two projects, which are expected to boost the country’s logistics capacity and skills development, form part of a broader strategy to position Namibia as a regional economic hub. Mbumba described the event as a crucial milestone in the country’s development, saying it aligns with the national vision for industrialisation and job creation. “Nambaza is a befitting name for the logistics park…